Cable demands “white space” revision

The cable industry continues to fight against the FCC’s plan to permit use of white space – the unused spectrum between broadcast TV channels – for new wireless services and devices.

The NCTA said it hired Carl T. Jones Corp. (“CTJ”) to conduct two field studies, the results of which, the NCTA says, “make definitively clear that cable operations will be subjected to harmful interference from white spaces devices as specified in the new rules.”

The NCTA has filed documents charging that the FCC, when it approved the white spaces scheme, simply failed to adequately consider potential interference with existing and potential cable products.

The NCTA, in particularly blunt language, accuses the commission of “virtually ignoring significant evidence in the record of direct pickup (“DPU”) interference that could affect not only video, but potentially even cable broadband and VoIP.

The association includes in its 144-page document engineering evidence to back up its claims.

The NCTA also asserts the FCC’s measures to prevent potential interference problems in cable headends “are inadequate and some provisions need further clarification.”

The NCTA said it is not seeking absolute protection from interference, but rather is recommending that the FCC re-evaluate and lower the maximum allowable power output of wireless devices that would be used with white space services.